Things to remember when choosing an herbal products

Call the manufacturer of the product(s) you are considering and see if they match up to this strict test of quality and integrity:

❏ If the herb comes in a capsule are the capsules preservative-free? (Make sure they are not synthetic materials, petroleum by-products, or plastic.)

❏ Are herbs free of all synthetic ingredients including dyes, artificial sweeteners, and other chemical additives? (Don’t we get enough chemicals in our daily lives without deliberately taking them with our daily herbs?)

❏ Does the bottle clearly state ALL ingredients and or additives? Does the label list the ingredients used as a base to bond the herbs into a tablet form? (Since the FDA does not require this disclosure on herb labels, those who volunteer this information on the label probably have nothing to hide.)

❏ If a preservative must be used to preserve freshness, is the source of the additive or preservative from a vegetable or fruit source? (You are again looking for hidden chemicals and synthetic materials with this question.)

❏ Does the manufacturer quarantine the bulk herbs for two to three days? (Any raw products left out to the elements can be spoiled or contaminated.)

❏ Are the herbs unsprayed? (It is customary in some countries to spray certain herbs and not so in others. Choose the manufacturer who knows this and gets the unsprayed herbs from the correct countries, or who tests all their herbs for any pesticides or chemical contamination.)

❏ Are the herbs you are considering more expensive than many others? (Unfortunately, cost is a factor in good herbs, just as cost is a factor in the quality of most products. Cutting costs at the cash register usually means cheating your body of the best herbal products.)

❏ Does the company use the most medicinal parts or the whole herb in their product? (Again, labels do not need to mention if the flower, stem, or root is used in a particular encapsulated herb, although there may be no value at all depending on which part is used. Another example is the age of a plant. Aloe vera, for instance, needs to be at least four years old to have any medicinal value. For greedy, impatient, or ignorant reasons, many manufactures will bottle and sell immature, and impotent plants because legally, they can.)

❏ Does the manufacturer test the “fingerprint” of each batch of herb they acquire to ensure it is what they ordered? (Many herbs look alike in bulk form. One large herb manufacturer told me that they once received cocoa bean from their supplier and was told it was pau d’arco. Visually the differences in the bulk herb were nil. The manufacturer’s first quality-control check quickly uncovered the mistake and the shipment was sent back. Make sure the manufacturer has the quality equipment to undertake these types of tests.)

❏ Are the encapsulated herbs made without the use of high heat? (Heat damages enzymes, evaporates potent essential oils, and decreases an herb’s value. Exception: concentrated tablets made from infusions or decoctions, liquid herbs, and extracts.)

❏ Are the herbs guaranteed pure? (There is a big difference between 100 percent refund guarantee and guaranteed 100 percent pure. It is more valuable to know that you are getting what you think you’re getting than to get something that is questionable and have it not work or make you sick! Would you rather have a purity guarantee or would you rather just take your chances and have to get your money back on a terrible product?)

❏ Does the manufacturer run themselves to pharmaceutical standards? (Are outside doors sealed against dust, do workers wear masks, gloves, and sterile clothes, are herbs quarantined, are strict quality-control tests taken before, during, and after processing, are herbs packaged tightly in sealed containers, etc.? If a company does not know what the typical pharmaceutical standards are, then the answer is probably “no.”)

❏ Is the manufacturing plant open to visitors or inspectors? (If no, why not?)

❏ Does the manufacturer have an investment of some sort in research and development? (A team of scientists, doctors, nutritionists, pharmocognosist, and researchers indicates that the manufacturer is dedicated to quality and integrity and has an interest in your health and not just their bottom line.) If you get a straightforward “yes” answer to all of these questions, then good for you, you’ve found yourself a quality company. Now let’s get on with a couple of things that will help your quality herbs work even better for you!

Picking the Right Herb

Picking my own herbs was nice and holistic, but the truth of the matter is that there’s a lot more to herbalism than identifying a plant correctly and picking it. The herb-picking party came to a screeching halt once I began to learn more about harvesting herbs. I learned that there are specific harvest times that need to be adhered to in order to capture a plant’s medicinal value. I also learned that the drying process had to be done just so for the best effects—and then I saw under a microscope that I was getting a whole lot more than just my herb with my herb, including bug parts, animal feces, and other unidentifiable beasties. That’s not to mention the dangerous possibility of incorrectly identifying a safe herb for a toxic or poisonous plant. A mistake like that could turn a Rocky Mountain High into a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever!
Needless to say, I gave up on my little fantasy of picking all my own herbs very quickly! For my daily herb intake, I now rely on certain herbal manufacturers who not only send their specialists to the field to pick the herbs at the right time (important for capturing the best properties), but who also enforce strict quality-control standards that I am not capable of doing on my own. Besides, I wasn’t too hip on getting my protein from microscopic bug parts left on my self-harvested herbs! I haven’t abandoned picking herbs completely, though. I still pick my own sagebrush once in a while and use it for incense, or I harvest some chamomile and add it to my shampoo to lighten my hair. For the herbs I use internally, however, I order in!
Of course, I don’t want to discourage you from learning herbology from the ground up—this is a good way to get back to your roots. It’s also very helpful for when and if we are alienated from commercial availability, as we will have to rely on our knowledge of plants and herbs for survival and emergency situations. A lot of value comes from knowing the herbs around you. For the purposes of this book, though, you should probably stick to purchasing your herbs from a company whose reputation you can trust until you become an expert yourself. So, every salesperson, distributor, manufacturer, and herbal advertisement tells you that their product is the best? Guaranteed? All natural? How do you really know what sets the quality products apart from the fly-by-nights? Here’s a little checklist that you can use to find the best quality in your herbal products.

Herb Essence

Herbs are also used in homeopathic and flower remedies and to make essential oils. Essential oils are the “essence” of a plant—the moisture you see when you tear a fresh plant leaf or the spray that you see when tearing a fresh tangerine peel in the sunshine. These oils give a plant their scent; they evaporate thoroughly when exposed to air. The proper distillation process to extract these volatile oils is expensive and time consuming, so you will more than likely have to purchase your oils. Try to find a Grade A type, 100 percent pure oil when you shop.
Many in the market are adulterated with a chemical fragrance enhancer and/or another substance to stretch the company’s bottom line. Unfortunately, manufactures who cheat by diluting their oils could do you more harm than good. If you are in the wild and are positive that you have identified a plant correctly and want to use its essential oil, you can rub the leaves of the plant on you—the moisture from the plant is the plant’s essence. However, it is important that you identify a plant correctly—the essence of poisonous plants, such as poison ivy and poison oak, can give you a terrible skin reaction if touched. Before you go rubbing yourself with nature, know exactly what you are getting yourself into, or rely on a purchased product.

Chewable

Form: Chewable.
Description: Chewable herbs are another great way to get kids, the elderly, or anyone who hates to swallow pills to take herbs. Herbal manufactures make herbs in chewable forms that are usually sweetened with fruit juice.
How to Make: I have not found a palatable way to make my own, but here’s an idea used by some if you have the gumption: Take a small amount of the powdered herb mixture, moisten with a small amount of marshmallow herb, add a tiny amount of water (just enough to mix but keep firm). Roll into pea-size balls and leave to dry. Then dip the balls in honey or peanut butter to cover the taste.
How to Take: Chew and swallow.

Liquid/tinctures

Form: Liquid/tinctures.
Description: Liquid herbs, known as tinctures, are concentrated herbal extracts that can be preserved over longer periods of time. They are easier to administer to children, the elderly, and pets and are easily absorbed. Liquid herbs require a base, which is usually either glycerin or alcohol, to stabilize them. If an extract has an alcohol base that is disagreeable to taste, the herb can be placed in a small amount of very hot water before drinking. The hot water will evaporate the alcohol. Tinctures are not suited for those who lack tolerance to alcohol.
How to Make: To make your own liquid extracts use one pint of 60-proof or higher alcohol (brandy, gin, and vodka have all been used), glycerin, or apple cider vinegar to four ounces of herb powder. Combine in container with lid for two to six weeks. Vigorously shake the mixture two times per day. You will notice a slow change in the color. Strain tincture through cheesecloth and store in a darkcolored bottle (preferably with a dropper so that it can be easily administered).
How to Take: Take sublingually with a dropper, or by the teaspoon—usually a few drops will do. Or, place drops in water or juice, and drink. Tinctures may also be used externally.

Capsules or tablets

Form: Capsules or tablets.
Description: Probably the most convenient way to take herbs. Powdered herbs can come in a capsule form (usually made from gelatin or cellulose materials) or tablet form (usually a bit stronger than the capsules and made from a powdered herb that is compressed and coated to form a pill). Make sure that the company you get tablets from uses a natural coating, not plastic or synthetic coatings. All ingredients, including the binding or base materials used to form tablets, should be listed. If not, find out before you buy.
How to Make: If you’d rather swallow your herbs in a capsule, but you bought or grew your own herbs in bulk form, you can purchase empty capsules at your local health food store and encapsulate your herbs yourself. (Nature’s Way makes Vegicaps®, which are labeled kosher.) Crush your dried herbs into powder form with a mortar and pestle to make it easier to encapsulate. You will also get more herb in each capsule this way.
How to Take: Swallow with plenty of water.

Poultice.

Form: Poultice.
Description: A poultice is a paste made from herbs for an external application for injuries or infections, such as boils. The poultice’s value is the rapid absorption of the herb through the skin. A poultice will generally stimulate circulation, reduce infection, pull out toxins through skin, reduce inflammation, and relieve irritations.
How to Make: Using herb powders is best for making poultices. Capsules can be opened and the powder dumped out, or you can make your own powder from bulk herbs by using a mortar and pestle to crush the herb into powder. If using a freshly cut herb grate, crush or chew it a bit first. Moisten dry powdered herb with a liquid herb, such as aloe vera (we’ll talk about aloe later) until it has a pasty consistency. Other safe options to bind your herbs together with include egg whites, slippery elm, clay, or olive oil.
How to Take: Apply paste to injury, and cover with plastic, cheesecloth, wool, or muslin cloth and wrap with a bandage to hold in place. Change two to four times a day, or as necessary.